Friday, January 15, 2010

Laughing Friday

No photo or vid today, just a quick scene: warm early Friday evening, a dense stand of oleanders 20 feet tall and too thick to see through, a quiet street, and as I ride past on the way home, I hear a covey* of Gambel's quail laughing at each other and running back and forth behind the hedge. I stopped to listen for a moment, tried to see through the bushes to find out what they were up to, but could only hear them chortling as they scuttled to and fro across crispy leaves. I hope we find something to laugh about like those crazy quail this weekend, with family, friends, and/or on a bike. Get up. Go ride.

*need a better collective noun for quail than "covey". Suggestions welcome. I'm going with a giggle of quail until someone suggests a better choice.

I tried to find a good recording of quail in full-on frenzied laughter to show what they sound like up close, but found none. New goal for me in my self-powered travels: produce a high quality recording of a zugzwang of Gambel's quail laughing their feathers off. One of the vids I found was of a hawk taking a stab at a convoy of quail, though.

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Let's Just Ride

I commute by bicycle in Phoenix, Arizona, a metropolis suited to riding bicycles of all types, with weather, mountains, roads, canals, and paths to keep me forever spinning. My favorite bike tools are an open mind, creative engagement, curiosity, compassion, common ground, and the search for knowledge.

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